Umhlali hosts successful SA Champs

Ekurhuleni’s Paul Boshoff defeated Hennie du Plessis from Limpopo at the last hole of a humdinger 36-hole final to claim the Nomads SA Boys U-19 Match Play Championship title on Saturday.

Throughout a very blustery day at Umhlali Country Club, the lead changed hands no less than seven times in the ding-dong battle for supremacy. The 17-year-old finalists were still all square at their second visit to the par-three 18th and it looked as if the battle would head to a play-off decider.

However, Boshoff’s tee shot stood up to the wind gusting at 30 kilometers an hour off the left, and found the edge of the green, while Du Plessis’s effort splashed in the greenside bunker.

The Limpopo golfer played a terrific trap shot that slipped just six feet passed the pin, but Boshoff lagged a lengthy putt to the edge of the cup for a tap-in par.

Du Plessis missed his attempt to extend the match, and the victory went to Boshoff. The country’s number five ranked junior was absolutely thrilled to get the job done.

“I reckon that the people who came must have thought neither of us wants to win this,” Boshoff kidded.

“I am so incredibly proud right now. Considering the past champions, it is a great honour to know my name will join players like Tim Clark, Trevor Immelman, Richard Sterne and Dylan Frittelli on the trophy.”